Schneiderman issues statement on Charlottesville

NEW YORK -- New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman issued the following statement:

"My heart is with the people of Charlottesville, especially those standing up to hatred, racism, and bigotry.

The white supremacist violence on display in Charlottesville this weekend is an affront to everything this country represents. When you give license to open expressions of bigotry against some groups, you open the door to bigotry against all groups of people.

Each of us—especially those of us in public office—has a moral obligation to condemn these actions in the strongest of terms. False equivalencies between "sides" simply provide cover to the white supremacists seeking to take our country backwards and tear our communities apart.

Our diversity is our greatest strength—and we will not allow anyone to turn that strength against us."